Replaceable heels



Sept. 4, 1962 A. GAN

REPLACEABLE HEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1961 INVENTOR. ALFRED GAN Sept. 4, 1962 A. GAN 3,052,047

REPLACEABLE HEELS Filed Oct. 12, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALFRED GAN A TTOP/Viy 3,052,047 REPLACEABLE HEELS Alfred Gan, 752 West End Ave, New York, N.Y. Filed Oct. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 144,737 4 Claims. (CI. 3636) This invention relates to heels for shoes and, more particularly, to new and useful improvements in means for readily and detachably =affixing a heel on a shoe.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a rubber heel which can readily be attached to a shoe by the wearer without the need of either skill or tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe heel including a permanently attached heel base, and a rubber heel detachably connected to said heel base in a novel manner.

It is further proposed to construct a replaceable heel which is simple in construction and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a shoe with a heel construction embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the rubber heel with the fastening element omitted.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the heel base.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rubber heel.

FIG. 6 is a spread perspective view of one of the attaching elements on the heel base, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a spread perspective view of one of the attaching elements on the rubber heel, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified form of mounting for one of the attaching elements on the rubber heel.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line Ill-10 of FIG. 8, parts being omitted.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the rubber heel, with the attaching elements removed, taken on the plane of the line 11-11 of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, showing the first form of the invention, a portion of a shoe It is illustrated to which a permanent lift or heel base 11 of leather may be permanently fastened by nails 12, with or without adhesive. The heel base is provided with a pair of opposed, spaced snap fastener elements in the form of perforated bosses 13, projecting from the outer surface thereof at each side. A similar boss 14 is similarly mounted centrally of the base adjacent its rear periphery. Each boss consists of a tubular body 15 of sheet metal, with an annular outer flange 16 at its base, an inner intermediate fiange 17 and a beaded portion 18 at its outer end. The base flanges .116 are embedded in the outer surface of the heel base, and the bosses are secured to the heel base by screws 19 passing through the tubular bodies and into the heel base, with the heads of the screws pressing against the inner flanges 17. The screws serve the dual function of fastening the bosses on the heel base and of strengthening the bosses.

A rubber heel 20 is replaceably fastened on the heel base 11 and for this purpose is provided with a pair of opposed, spaced snap fastener elements in the form of 3,852,847 Patented Sept. 4, 19%2 dish-shaped socket members 21 of sheet metal, fixedly embedded in a recess 22 on the inner surface of the heel adjacent its periphery at each side, the top of the socket members being flush with the inner surface of the rubber heel. A similar socket member 23 is similarly embedded adjacent the periphery at the center of the heel. The socket members are arranged and positioned on the rubber heel similarly to the arrangement and positioning of the bosses on the heel base so that when the heel base and rubber heel are brought together the bosses and socket members will register. Each socket member is formed with an opening 24 in its bottom wall 25 for receiving a double-headed rivet 26 which extends through slots 27 and 28 communicating with the recess 22 for fastening the socket member to the heel. At its outer end, each socket member is formed with an annular groove 29 for seating a resilient split ring 30, the inner periphery of the ring projecting slightly beyond the confines of the wall of the groove and into the interior of the socket member so as to restrict the opening in the socket memher.

In mounting the rubber heel 28, the snap fastener socket members 21 and 23 are positioned over and in register with the projecting snap fastener bosses 13 and 14, respectively, and the rubber heel is pressed inwardly so that the bosses are snapped into the socket members against the action of the split rings 30. When the beaded portions 18 of the bosses pass the rings, the rings contract and securely fasten the bosses in the socket members. Thus the rubber heel is tightly attached to the heel base 11 in a manner to stand the stress of ordinary use and is yet easily detachable without special tools.

In accordance with the present invention, the rubber heel 20 is provided with curved dished-out recesses 35 on the outer surface thereof adjacent the corners of the rub ber heel and opposite the central inner recess housing the socket member 23. Such recesses produce a suction cup effect.

After the rubber heel 2G is worn to the point where it should be discarded, it is only necessary to rip off the worn rubber heel, and the bosses will remain in the heel base 11. The rubber heel is thinned out at the recesses 35 so that the heel can be grasped by the fingers of the operator at the center rear and at the corners of the heel and the heel bent away from the heel base 11, the recesses 35 serving as hinge points. The rubber heel is thus readily removed. A new rubber heel, provided with socket members, may then be placed in position so that the bosses again fit within the respective socket members in the new rubber heel.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive, the replaceable heel 20 is formed of leather or composition material and the fastening or attaching socket members 21 and 23 are mounted on and fastened to the heel similarly to the socket members 21 and 23 of the form of FIG. 1. In this form, however, the slot 28 for receiving the outer head of the rivet 26' extends through the bottom or outer surface of the heel. A tread member or lift 31 covers the outer surface of the heel 20' and is fastened thereto by an adhesive 32 or in any other suitable manner.

In accordance with the present invention, the tread member or lift 31 is formed with curved dished-out shallow recesses 37 on the outer surface thereof opposite the recesses 22 and 23 on the inner surface of the rubber heel 20'. Such recesses 37 produce a suction cup effect.

The invention contemplates a standardization of the arrangement and spacing of the snap fastener bosses and snap fastener socket members on the heel base and on the replaceable heel, respectively, but in the manufacture of the replaceable heel it might happen that the central socket member is positioned slightly too close or too far away from the side socket members and thereby fail to register with the corresponding central boss on the heel base. In order to accommodate such a condition and to bring the parts into automatic or self registration, the central socket member 23 is adjustably and slidably mounted in the rubber heel. 'Ihe socket member 23' is constructed and fastened to the replaceable heel similarly to the socket member 23 of the form of FIG. 1. However, the recess 22' formed in the surface of the heel for receiving the socket member is larger than the socket member itself so that the socket member may slide therein lengthwise of the heel. The slot 27 for receiving the shank of the rivet 26' is elongated as is the communicating slot 28 for receiving the outer head of the rivet whereby the shank and its outer head may move lengthwise of the heel. When the central boss 14 on the heel base 11 contacts the central socket member 23, the latter, if not in register with the boss, will be forced automatically by the boss to slide to proper position to register with and receive the boss.

The tread member or lift 31 is thinned out at the recesses 37 so that the lift 31 and rubber heel can both be grasped by the fingers of the operator at the center rear and at the corners and sides and the rubber heel bent outwardly away from the heel base 11, the recesses 37 in the lift 31 serving as hinge points. The rubber heel is thus readily removed.

In all other respects the form of invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive, is similar to the form shown in FIG. 1 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. A heel for a shoe comprising a base permanently fastened to the shoe and having a plurality of spaced projecting bosses fixedly mounted on its outer surface along its sides and at its center adjacent its periphery, said bosses having beaded portions at their outer ends, a removable rubber heel having a plurality of dish-shaped recesses on its inner surface, along its sides and at its center adjacent its periphery, a plurality of dish-shaped socket members in said recesses, and resilient split rings carried by the socket members and adapted to coact with said beaded portions on the bosses to hold the bosses in the socket members, the central socket member on the heel being slidable lengthwise of the rubber heel member for automatically registering with the central boss on the heel base, said rubber heel having shallow recesses on its outer surface opposite the recesses on its inner surface whereby the rubber heel is thinned out at such points so that the rubber heel can be bent outwardly away from the heel base, the recesses in the outer surface of the rubber heel serving as hinge points for such operation.

2. A heel for a shoe comprising a heel base permanently fastened to the shoe and having a plurality of spaced projecting bosses fixedly mounted on its outer surface, said bosses having beaded portions at their outer ends, and a removable rubber heel having a plurality of dish-shaped recesses on its inner surface, along its sides and at its center adjacent its periphery adapted to receive the projecting bosses on the heel base, a plurality of dish-shaped socket members in said recess and resilient split rings carried by the socket members and adapted to coact with said beaded portions on the bosses to hold the bosses in the socket members, rivets securing said socket members in said rubber heel, the top of the socket members being flush with the inner surface of the rubber heel, the central socket member on the heel being adjustable for registering with one of said bosses on the heel base, said rubber heel having shallow recesses on its outer surface opposite the recesses on the inner surface thereof whereby the rubber heel is thinned out at such points so that the rubber heel can be bent outwardly along its periphery, the recesses in the outer surface serving as hinge points for such operation.

3. A heel for a shoe comprising a heel base permanently fastened to the shoe and having a plurality of spaced projecting bosses fixedly mounted on its outer surface along its sides and at its center adjacent its periphery, said bosses having beaded portions at their outer ends, a removable rubber heel having a plurality of dish-shaped recesses on its inner surface along its sides, a plurality of socket members in said recesses, said rubber heel having a central recess adjacent its periphery, and having a countersunk opening and a slot communicating with said recess extending through the outer surface of the heel, a dishshaped socket member slidably mounted in said latter recess, a double-headed rivet for fastening said latter dishshaped socket member on the rubber heel and guiding its movement, said rivet being slidable in said opening and slot, split rings carried by the socket members and adapted to coact with the beaded portions on the bosses to hold the bosses in the socket members, said rubber heel having shallow recesses on its outer surface opposite the recesses on the inner surface thereof whereby the rubber heel is thinned out at such points so that the rubber heel can be bent outwardly, the recesses on the outer surface serving as hinge points for such operation.

4. A heel for a shoe comprising a heel base permanently fastened to the shoe and having a plurality of spaced projecting bosses fixedly mounted on its outer surface along its sides and at its center adjacent its periphery, said bosses having beaded portions at their outer ends, a removable rubber heel having a plurality of dish-shaped recesses on its inner surface along its sides and at its center adjacent its periphery, socket members in said inner recesses, said rubber heel having a countersunk opening and a slot communicating with the central inner recess and extending through the outer surface of the heel, a doubleheaded rivet for fastening the dish-shaped socket member in the central inner recess to the rubber heel and guiding its movement, said rivet being slidable in said opening and slot, split rings carried by the socket members and adapted to coact with the beaded portions on the bosses to hold the bosses in thesocket members, and a tread member fastened to the outer surface of the rubber heel, said tread member having shallow recesses on its outer surface opposite the recesses on the inner surface of the rubber heel whereby the tread member is thinned out opposite the inner recesses on the rubber heel so that the rubber heel and tread member can be bent outwardly, the recesses on the outer surface of the tread member serving as hinge points for such operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,366,518 Buchman Jan. 25, 1921 2,081,610 Van Mourik May 25, 1937 2,478,810 Deschenes et al Aug. 9, 1949 2,932,099 Dardig Apr. 12, 1960 

